NASS to Issue Monthly Hog Reports

August 30, 2000

USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will conduct a monthly hog survey starting in October. The survey will collect sow and gilt inventories, sows and gilts farrowed, sows and gilts bred, and pig crop for the United States on a monthly basis. he first published data from this survey will be released Dec. 28 with subsequent reports released the last Friday of each month.

"The primary objective of the monthly hog survey is to provide information concerning the future supply of market hogs. This will be the first time NASS has released data on the number of sows and gilts bred," said Ron Bosecker, NASS administrator. The information, designed to meet the expressed need by the pork industry for more current market data, will improve market and price stability. The regular Quarterly Hog Survey program will remain unchanged

A total of 3,300 producers will be contacted each month in 30 States. This is a sample survey, representing all hog producers across the country, from contractors to independent producers. By federal law, individual data are kept strictly confidential. Name, address, and other private information, including reported inventory data, are never released to anyone.